Forty-four years after joining the European Economic Community, the forerunner of the modern day EU, Britain has triggered Article 50 to begin formal divorce talks with the bloc.

Appearing at the House of Commons despatch box for the regular weekly session of Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), Prime Minister Theresa May made a statement to MPs confirming the start of the two-year extraction process.

At the same time, British ambassador to Brussels Tim Barrow delivered a letter signed by the PM to the European Council President Donald Tusk in Brussels. Once it was accepted, Article 50 was officially triggered.

“There is no reason to pretend that this is a happy day - neither in Brussels nor in London. Afterall, most Europeans including almost half the British voters wish that we would stay together, not drift apart. For me, I will not pretend that I am happy today,” he said.

“But paradoxically there is also something positive in Brexit. Brexit has made us, the community of 27, more determined and more united than before. I am fully confident at this.”

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He has stressed that “for now, nothing has changed. Until the UK leaves the EU, EU law will continue to apply to and within the UK.” This was possibly in reply to earlier attempts by London - now abandoned - to stop EU citizens from moving to the UK in the two years before Brexit.

He added it is now about damage control. “Our goal is clear - to minimize cost for EU citizens, businesses and member states. We will do everything in our power, and have all the tools to achieve this goal.”